The workplace has evolved, a large proportion of offices have now moved to some form of working from home. The hybrid working model has been adopted to give workers a better work life balance, while still having a physical office space. A hybrid working model is where employees work at least 1 day a week from home, with the more common being 2 working from home days each week. There are many benefits to offering the hybrid work model, or even working remotely full time. The concern with remote work, is the level of security needed to protect your company’s data. Without the proper level of security in place, you leave your company vulnerable to attacks, which could cost tens of thousands in fines. 

What can you do to improve your remote working security?

Use secure connectivity

A simple and effective way to keep your data safe is to use virtual private networks, more commonly known as VPNs. VPNs encrypt the data transmitted between a user’s device and the VPN server, which makes it much harder for anyone to intercept or steal sensitive information. You can set the workplace to only be accessible through a VPN as well, which limits who can attempt to gain access.

Train employees on security awareness

Educate employees on the latest cyber threats and how to recognize, and avoid them. Schedule regular security awareness training sessions to ensure that employees are up-to-date on the latest threats and best practices. You can also conduct phishing simulations to train employees to recognize and avoid phishing attacks, which are one of the most common types of cyberattacks.

Implement two-factor authentication

Require employees to use two-factor authentication for accessing sensitive data and systems. The best way to incorporate 2FA, is to make it a companywide mandatory process. This can be one-time passcodes sent via text message or generated by an authenticator app, rather than less secure methods like security questions.

Keep software up-to-date

Software updates often include security patches that fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. Keeping software up to date helps to prevent these vulnerabilities from being exploited and protects against cyberattacks. In some cases, software updates are required to comply with regulations or standards, such as security or privacy standards.

Limit access to sensitive data

Limiting access to sensitive data is a critical step in ensuring the security and privacy of sensitive information. Implement the principle of least privilege when designating user accessibility. This means you are only providing users with the minimum level of access necessary to do their jobs. You should store sensitive data on secure servers that are protected by firewalls and other security measures, as well as restrict access to those who have a legitimate need.

Implement device management policies

Establish policies for the use of company-owned and personal devices and ensure that they are encrypted and have up-to-date security software installed. Use encryption to protect sensitive data in transit and at rest, making it much more difficult for unauthorized individuals to access the data.

Regularly back up data

Regularly back up important data to ensure that it can be recovered in case of a security breach or other disaster. Data should be stored in multiple places, and that data needs to be encrypted. In conjunction with your backups, regularly review and update security policies to ensure that they remain effective and relevant in the face of changing threats.

Monitor activity

Regularly monitor network activity to detect any suspicious behaviour and respond promptly to potential security incidents. You can view logs that indicate who attempted access, when, and where. If there is a suspicious login attempt, this is logged and can be recalled. 

How can First Base Solutions help with securing your hybrid office model?

Managed IT services are handled almost completely remotely. Everything is consistently secured and updated. First Base Solutions are the experts that manage all your security, encryption, backups and device access. Keeping hackers out, so your team can work. Contact us on 01789 721 746, to find out more!